Suspension device for curtains



May 18 1926.

I O. E. BULEY SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR CURTAINS p i F'iled.March 20,- ggg Patented May 18, 192% UNITE OLGA E. BULEY, 01E LONDON, ENGLAND.

SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR CURTAINS.

Application filed. March 20, 1922, Serial No. 5%,185.

This invention relates to an improved suspension device for curtains and the like and refers to that type of such devices in which the curtain is gripped between a sta- 5 tionary base and a. pair of. pivotal jaws.

The object of the present invention consists in an improved and simplified construction of such devices which is easy to manipulate and will effectively grip the curtain fabric or material without damaging the same. 7

According to the principal feature of the invention, the base portion of the device has pivotally mounted thereon a pair of pivotal 1 jaws, each formed of two parts hinged or pivotallyconnected together. The ends of' the base are formed with an upstanding ledge or projection with which the ends of the outer portions of the jaws engage.

The jaws are mounted in such a manner that when the jaws are folded or collapsed intermediate their ends, the outer ends may be disengaged from the projections on the base, whilst when the extended'position of the fabric, or material of the curtain is gripped between the ends of the jaws and p the lip or upturned ends of the base, the jaws are operated in the manner of toggles.

V The base plate and jaws may be formed from sheet metal by bending, stamping, pressing or in any other convenient manner or they may be formed of metal wire.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figs. 1 and 2 are front view and plan re spectively showing one form of the device, one of the jaws being shown in the partly open position.

formed of metal wire.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a' further Fig. 3 is a modified construction wholly Renewed March 2-3, 1926.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a still further modification in whlch a member carried by the jointed jaws is adapted to be proj ected through apertures in the back plate.

Referring to the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the device comprises a base portion 10 formed from sheet metal the ends of which are turned over at 11 to form a hook like receptive portion for the ends ofthe hinged jaws. The upper and lower edges of the base are bent laterally to form lugs or strips 12 between which the hinged jaws are mounted. The jaws are each formed of two parts 13 and 14 respectively, the inner portion 13 being provided with extensions or the like 15, which engage holes 16 in the strips or lugs 12, suitably spaced apart and located close together centrally of the-said lugs. The members 1% of the jaws are preferably formed of hard metal wire and are hinged to the portions 13 by providing the latter with a' socket portion '17, into which the ends of the wire are inserted from opposite sides as shown in dotted lines in Fi e with a hole or perforation to receive a sus-- pension hook member 19 which may consist of a piece of wire provided with a head 20 at itslower'end and at its upper end with a looped portion 22 or a hook by means of which the device is secured to a curtain ring or rod. Y

Fig. 3 shows a construction consisting entirely of wire. The base portion 23 consists of a single strip of wire bent at its ends to form the hook like receptive portions 24 and provided centrally on each side with loops 25 through which the supporting hook or ring 26 is passed. The ring 26 consistsof a piece of wire bent upon itself, the upper ends being bent round at 27 to form a ring like portion as shown. The two part jaws consist of members 28 having a hinged connection at their inner ends 29 to the shank portion of the supporting member 26 whilst their outer ends are coiled at 30 to form a socket into which the ends of the outer member 30 are inserted, the member 30 being of similar construction to the member let in Fig. 1.

Fig. a shows a construction in which the base portion 10 is formed of sheet metal whilst the jaws are each formed of two parts, the parts 32 having a hinged connection at their inner ends to a pin 33 passing through the lugs 12 of the base. The outer members 31 are each formed of a strip of wire of substantially U shape, the connecting portion of the U being curved at 3% whilst the free ends of the limbs of the U are bent inwardly at 35 to engage a recess formed by spirally coiling the outer ends of the members 32. The members 32 are also provided at their outer ends with arms or extensions 36 which are arranged in such a manner as to facilitate the manipulating jaws in securing the same to a curtain and detaching the same therefrom.

The pin 33 is provided with a loop to receive a ring 37.

The base portion is preferably curved or slightly inclined at its ends towards the front as shown in Fig. 5 in order to prevent accidental displacement of the members 13 and 32 when in use, so that the point of connection between the member 31 and the member 32 of each of the jaws lies behind the line passing through the pin 33 and the curved ends of the member 31. By this means, as in a toggle mechanism any strain towards the center of the base portion will not tend to release the grip on the curtain material.

The upper and lower edges of the base 10 in Figs. 1 and 2 are preferably cut away opposite the pivotal connection between the members 13 and 14 of the jaws, so as to facilitate the manipulation when the curtain support is to be detached.

Fig. 6 shows a construction similar to Figs. st and 5, but in this case the outer members 31 of the jaws are provided with inclined conical portions 38 adapted to engage lugs 39 on the ends of the base 10, the apex of the conical end portions 38 terminating in a looped portion 40 which facilitates the breaking of the toggle. In this construction as in Figs. 4; and 5, the suspension ring 37 is formed separately from the pivot pin 33 about which the inner members 32, 32 of each toggle turn, said pin being formed with a loop at its upper end to receive said ring.

Fig. 7 shows a further construction similar to Figs. 1 and 5, in which instead of forming the outer ends of the members 32 with the extensions 36 for manipulating the goggles, the outer ends of the outer members 31, 31 are each provided with a curved projecting extension 41. This extension is so shaped that when gripped in the fingers,

the outer ends 3-. of the members 31 can easily be guided into engagement with the hook like ends 11 of the base 10, and when so engaged, pressure applied to the point of connection between the parts 32 and 31 causes the material of the curtain to be firmly gripped in position. When the curtain material is detached, the toggle jaws are rcleasct by applying pressure of the linger to the projecting extensions %1 and by this means the forward surfaces of the book ends 11 of the base act as fulcrum points about which the members 31 turn.

8 shows a fur her modified construction substantially similar in construction to the form shown in Figs. 4 and 5 with the exception that instead of providing an extension 41 projecting at the front on each of the jointed arms, the extension extends rearwardly and when the arms are in gripping position attached to a curtain, the said extensions -11 extend into and preferably through an elongated aperture 42 in the base 10. In this construction the toggle is broken or released by pressure of the fingers applied at the rear to the projecting extension 41.

The operation will be readily understood. The curtain is first pleated and folded and the pleats are placed over the hook like ends 11 of the base 10. The curved ends of the members 14 Figs. 1 and 2 are then brought into engagement with the outer side of the pleated material on the inner side of the ends 11, 11, of the base. The jaws are then forced home by pressure upon the point of connection between the members 13 and 14, until the hinged joint abuts against the base 10. The curtain is then firmly gripped and the device may be attached to the curtain pole or rings in the usual manner.

lVhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America is 1. A suspension device for curtains, of the type described, comprising in combination a base member having hook portions at each end facing towards each other, two toggle mechanisms each adapted to have the outer extremity of one member in pivotal connection with the base at about the centre thereof and the outer extremity of the other member adapted in one position to be brought into forced locking engagement with its cooperating hook and in another position to be free of such hook, for the purposes set forth.

2. A suspension device for curtains, of the type described, comprising in combination a base member having hook portions at each end facing towards each other, two toggle mechanisms each adapted to have the outer extremity of one member in pivotal connection with the base at about the centre thereof and the outer extremity of the other member adapted in one position to be brought into forced looking engagement with its co-operating hook and in another position to be free of such hook and a projecting arm on one of the members of each toggle, for the purposes set forth.

3. A suspension device for curtains, of the type described, comprising in combination a base member having hook portions at each end facing towards each other, two toggle mechanisms each adapted to have the outer extremity of one member in pivotal connection with the base at about the centre thereof and the outer extremity of the other member adapted in one position to be brought into forced locking engagement with its co-operating hook and in another position to be free of such hook and a projecting arm on one of the members of each toggle located at the point of connection between the two parts of each toggle, for the purposes set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature this 10th day of March 1922.

OLGA E. BULEY. 

